The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-09-18

we'll because the initiative remains with tho
executive. The power of that body try i'm
peachments of pub officers for high crimes
and misdemeanors, function essentially judi
cial. while it has not produced any substantial
injurv,-hss, perhaps operated as a safety-valve
IN cases of great popular excitement AS eff
fcient remedy, it must be conceded to be fail
but the harmony and success with which the
three great subdivisions of the organized gov
eminent of the Constitution have co-operated in
the growth. prosperity, and happiness of this
great people. constitute the strongest argument
in favor the organic law, which governs them
all 1t is the first successful attempt, in the
history of the world, to lay the deep and broad
foundations OF government for millions of
people and unlimited territory, in a single
written instrument framed and adopted in one
great national effort
1T Is not only the first important written
constitution found in history but it is the first
which contained the principles necessary to
the successful confederation of numerous power
full states. do not forget, nor do I mean TO
disparage, our sister, the federal republic of
Switzerland. But her continuance as an indie
deudent power in Europe is SO largely due to her
compact territory, her inaccessible mountains,
her knowledge of the necessity of union to
safety and the policy of her powerful neigh bors.
which demands of each other the recognition of
her rights that she hardly forms an exception
But Switzerland stands today-may she ever
stand-as the oldest witness to the capacity OF a
republican confederation of states for sound
government, for the security of freedom, and
resistance to dlsintegrating tendencies. But
when we look 30 the results of confederation in
the Olympic Council, and the Achaian League
Of ancient history. and in modern times to the
States of Holland and the old German empire.
We must admit that the United States presents
the most remarks BILE, if not the only successful,
happy and prosperous, federated government in
the world.
s.Cnder the government estab lished by this
Constitution we have, in the century which we
are now overlooking, had three important wars
such always accompanied by hazardous
shocks to all governments. In the first of these
we encountered the British empire, the most
powerful nation then on the globe.-a nation
which had successfully resisted Napoleon. with
all the power of Europe at his back. If did
not attain all we fought for in that contest. we
displayed an energy and courage which COM
mapded for honorable stand among the
nations of the earth.
s'In the second-the war with Mexico-while
our reputation a warike people suffered no
diminuton, we made large accessions of valuable
territory, out of which States have been since
made members of the Union.
.'The last war-the recent civil warm the
number of men engaged in it. in the capacity of
the weapons and instruments of destruction
brought into operation and in the Importance of
the result to humanity at large, must be
esteemed the greatest war that the history of
the world presents It brought about by
the attempt of eleven of the States to destroy
the Union. This resisted by the government
of that Union under the powers granted it by
the Constitution. It's results were the enamel
patton of three millions of slaves. the
suppression of tho attempt to discover
the Union. the resumption of an
accelerated march In the growth, prosperity
and happiness of this country. 1t also taught
the lesson of the lndestructibilty OF the Union,
OF the wisdom of the princie3ss on which it Is
founded and it astonished the nations of the
world, and inspired them with respect which
they had never before entertained for our coun-
try
1.-The Ango-Saxon race, from whom we in
herit much that is valuable in character.
well our institutions. has been remarkable
IN all its history for love OF law and order.
While other peoples, equally cultivated, have
paiu their devotion to the man in power, as
represen tatlve of the law which he enforces, the
English people, and we their descendants. have
venerated the law itself. looking past it's ad
illustrators, and giving our allegiance and our
obedience to the principles which govern organ
lied society. It has been said that dozen En-
gllshmen or Americans thrown on unin-
habited island. would at once proceed to adopt
code of laws for their government, and elect the
officers who were to enforce them. And
certainly this proposition is born out by the
early history of emigrants to California,
where every mining camp organized into a
political body, and made laws for its own gov
ernment, which were good that Congress
adopted them until they should be repealed
modified by statute.
u but repeat the language of the Supreme
Court of the United States when l say that in
this country the law is snnreme No man 1s SO
high as to De above tie law. No officer Of thei
government may disregard it with irnpunitv.
To this Unborn and native regard for law. az a
governing power, we are indebted largely for
the wonderful and prosperity of our
people. for the security of our rights; aud when
the highest law to which paw this homage is
the Constitution of the United States. the his
tory of the world has presented such wonder
of Il prosperous, happy, civil government.
Let me urge upon M ACKNOWLEDGEMENT.
and4especially upon the rising generation of
them, examine, with careful scrutiny. all new
theories of government and of social life, and
if they do not rest upon foundation of vener-
alton and respect for law the bond of social
existence, let him distrust them as inimical to
human happiness.
"And now let me close this address with
quotation from one of the ablest jurists and
most profound commentators upon our laws
Chancellor Kent. He said, fifty years ago:
The government of the United States was
created by the free voice and joint will of the
people of America for their common defense
and general welfare. It's powers apply to those
great in terests which relate to this country in
its national capacity, and which depend for
their stability and protection the consolida-
ton of the Union 1t is clothed with the princi-
pal attributes of sovereignty, and it is justly
deemed the guardian of ouc best rights. the
source of our highest civil and political duties,
and the sure means of our national greatness.
1t was twenty minutes past o'clock when the
memorial address was concluded. having occu-
pied one hour and zen minutes. Just as Justice
Miller seated the band struck up Hail
Columbia" as accompaniment to the chorus
of 2, 900 voices. The new words contributed by
Oliver Wendell Holmes were used and as the
popular air floated into space, it was caught up
ny many oI tuo crown, ana LntS, Win the peat
ing of time by thousands of feet on the stand,
produced effect that will linger long in the
emories of those who witnessed the scene The
national hymn which contributed By F.
Marion Crawford then recited by Professor
Murdoch with a chorus OF 200 mems voices At
forty minutes past L President Kasson, one of
The commission, gently took rhe
of Cardinal Gibbons who
with the gittering pouring down upon
his cardinal vestmenrs and the ''red hat" so
lately placed upon his head by Leo XIII, looked
his best and was the recipient of much attention
After walking to the front of the stand and paw
ing his respects to the thousands of people who
surged in and around the square, with bow hs
turned. and facing the President, and within
hearing of all who occupied seats around the
circle. offered PRAYER to the Almighty He
was listened to with the closest possible atten-
ton, and upon the conclusion of the prayer the
sweet strains of the patriotic Star spancIed
Banner broke upon the crowd in volumes from
the voices of the grand chorus, accompanied by
the Marine Band An imp ressive beuediction
was then pronounced by the Rev. Mr. Wither-